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Catholic Social Teaching: Human Dignity & the Common Good

Spiritual Care Champions

December 9, 2009

John F. Wallenhorst, Ph.D.

Vice President, Mission & Ethics

Bon Secours Health System

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Objectives

Understand some core concepts about Catholic Social Teaching, especially themes related to the dignity of the person and the common good

Understand how Catholic Social Teaching practically affects the delivery of care, including pastoral and spiritual care services, and self-understanding of the Catholic health ministry

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Agenda

Catholic Social Teaching

Personal Voice

Dignity of the Person Scriptural Foundations

Teaching

Common Good Scriptural Foundations

Teaching

Health Care Applications

Discussion

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Catholic Social

Teaching

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Catholic Social Teaching

Subject Persons-in-community

Rights and responsibilities

Dynamic expression of persons and communities as co-creators

Sources Scripture

Teaching

Community Praxis/Action

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Catholic Social Teaching

Purpose 1. Personal

Guidance for reflection, living, participation

2. Ecclesial Active participation in society

Shapes responses for influencing society

3. Social Dialogue with society and all disciplines

Speaks to and influences conversation, public policy and practice

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Catholic Social Teaching

Reflection on Human Experience

Paying Attention – Lonergan

Intentional disposition and practice

Praxis – Aristotle & Freire

Knowledge directed toward action

Dangerous Memory – Metz & Groome

Keeping alive memory in order to act

Know through engagement of

the whole person.

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Catholic Social Teaching

“Church's social doctrine “belongs to the field, not of ideology,

but of theology and particularly of moral theology.” It cannot

be defined according to socio-economic parameters. It is not

an ideological or pragmatic system intended to define and

generate economic, political and social relationships, but is a

category unto itself.

It is “the accurate formulation of the results of a careful reflection

on the complex realities of human existence, in society and

in the international order, in the light of faith and of the

Church's tradition …’”

- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

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Personal

Voice

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Voice

Witnessing Voicelessness

Without a voice

Deprived of voice - silenced

Personal Experiences of Voicelessness

As receivers?

At work, at home, in society

As agents?

At work, at home, in society

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Having a Voice

What does it mean not to have a voice?

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Having a Voice

A central theme of Catholic Social Teaching

is about the importance of relationships:

Of living in community

Of full participation

Of having a voice

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Having a Voice

Having a voice is one of the important ways

in which:

We express our dignity as persons

Our dignity is acknowledged and honored by

others

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Dignity of the

Person

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Scriptural Foundations

Psalm 139: 14

“I praise you, so wonderfully you made me;

wonderful are your works…”

Genesis 1: 27

“God created human beings in his own image…”

Imago Dei

Genesis 2:7

God’s breath of life brings to persons to life

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Scriptural Foundations

Imago Dei is constitutive

Not added on, extra or after the fact

The truth of the human person includes being

created in the divine image

What it means to be a human person is precisely to

be created in God’s image

Human person is the clearest

reflection of God.

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Scriptural Foundations

Naturally oriented toward God

The human person as a “capacity for God”’

“…my soul thirsts for the living God…” – Psalm 42

Capax Dei – Augustine’s De Trinitate

Natural hunger, longing, thirst, openness

Only satisfied by final vision of God

“We see now as through a glass darkly; but then face to

face…” – 1 Cor. 13

Aquinas, Cajetan, deLubac, Rahner

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Scriptural Foundations

Naturally drawn toward eternity

Uniquely spiritual and oriented toward eternal life

Uniquely self-aware and self-reflective

In search of meaning and purpose

“… put timelessness in their hearts…” -

Ecclesiastes 3:11

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“We are all pilgrims on the roads of our life. There is always something ahead of us that we have not yet overtaken.

“When we do catch up with something it immediately becomes an injunction to leave it behind us and to go onwards. Every end becomes a beginning.”

- Karl Rahner, Prayers and Meditations and Prayers

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Teaching

Rights and obligations flow directly from human nature Pacem in Terris, 1963

The sublime dignity of the human person Gaudium et Spes, 1965

Persons are willed by God Centesimus Annus, 1991

Clearest reflection of God’s presence in the world The Challenge of Peace, 1983

All enjoy equal dignity Catechism #1934, 1994

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Practical Principles

Shared Statement on Catholic Identity

Catholic Health Association

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Practical Principles

Principles

Every person is a treasure

Every life is a sacred gift

Every person is a unity of body, mind, spirit

Persons are more important than things

The measure of every institution is how it

enhances or diminishes human dignity

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Practical Applications

Applications

Find the hidden treasures

Recognize holiness as embodied

Focus on holistic approaches to the person

Creative critique of materialism

Analysis of all institutions on light of the human

person

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Dignity of the Person

Expression of personal freedom,

creativity and voice

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Attendant rights and responsibilities

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The Common

Good

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Scriptural Foundations

Amos 5:14 “Seek good and not evil that you may live…let justice prevail

at the gate…”

Matthew 10: 8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”

Acts 2:44 “...but they had everything in common…”

1 Cor. 12:7 “…but to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for

the common good.”

1 Peter 4: 8 “Use gifts to serve one another.”

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Scriptural Foundations

Community is for persons

The person is revealed in community

Universal destination of goods

Preferential option of the poor

No one is exempt from participation and

cooperation – both a right and a duty

Political structures are a means, not an end

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Teaching

“The common good embraces the sum total of all those conditions of social life which enable individuals, families, and organizations to achieve complete and effective fulfillment.”

- John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, 1961

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Teaching

The common advantage of all is to be pursued Quadragesimo Anno, 1931

Whole reason for civil authorities is the realization of the common good Pacem in Terris, 1961

Contribute to the common good according to one’s means Gaudium et Spes, 1965

Love of neighbor include broader commitment to the common good Economic Justice for All, 1983

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Teaching

Concerns the life of all

Requires prudence from each, but even more from those who exercise authority

Three essential elements Respect for the person, with inalienable rights

Social well being and development

Peace, i.e. secure, stable, just order

- Catechism, #1906-1909,1994

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Practical Principles

Shared Statement on Catholic Identity

Catholic Health Association

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Practical Principles

Principles

Work to bring about Gospel vision of justice and

peace

Promote wellness for all persons and

communities

Special attention and service to neighbors who

are poor and vulnerable

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Practical Applications

Applications

Participate in neighborhood, community,

national, world-wide activities

Encourage the participation of others

Support just social practices

Speak out against injustices on all levels

Witness by personal example and service

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Health Care

Applications

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Health Care Applications

Mission

Ministry of the Church

Broadly understood and respectful

Catholic identity as an expression of specific commitments

Administration

Ministry leaders

Commitment to organization’s mission on behalf of persons

and communities

More than the veneer of Catholic commitment

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Health Care Applications

Ethics Within context of whole Catholic tradition

Social context and community responsibility

Virtue ethics: existing moral sensitivity and role of developing habits

Focus on organizational ethics Workplace justice

Inclusivity and diversity

Compensation

Participation and association

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Health Care Applications

Pastoral and Spiritual Care Respect for the dignity of persons, including

diverse religious and spiritual expressions

Care for persons in their wholeness: mind, body, spirit

Attend to the communities which form and influence the development of persons

Assist with other caregivers in understanding and respecting these dimensions

Collaborate with local communities

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Pastoral Circle

Personal Experience

What is it?

Social Analysis

What does it mean in this context?

Faith Reflection

What does faith say and call us to?

Planning & Action

What do we do?

Evaluation

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“From the Heart of the Church”

Judith Merkle

A New Vision for Community

Communities of Shared History

Communities of Mutuality

Communities that are pluralistic

Communities that are autonomous

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Discussion

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Questions & Conversation

What are some of the challenges?

Personally

Professionally

Organizationally

How do you address those challenges?

What is the role of Catholic Social Teaching in

the health ministry?

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Thank you.